St Mirren made it back-to-back league wins with a 1-0 win over Raith Rovers at the Paisley 2021 Stadium. A fine strike from Lewis Morgan early in the second half was enough to hand Saints their second league victory in a row and their first at home since April.
The home team started the match well with Kyle McAllister and Jason Naismith getting joy down the right side in the early proceedings. First Lawrence Shankland released McAllister down the win. He broke into the box and aimed a cross towards the head of John Sutton but it had too much on it for the striker to get near to it.
Then it was Naismith who did well as he drew a corner down that side after beating McHattie. The corner was whipped in deep by McAllister towards Naismith who got his head on the end of it but it lacked enough power as it drifted beyond the post.
Kyle Magennis, fresh from signing a contract extension at the Buddies, almost helped set up the opener on 26 minutes. He was slipped in by McAllister and bounded down the right side into the box before sending across a low ball which took Raith goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert out of the game but it just couldn't find Sutton who was sliding in at the back post.
Saints won a free kick on the half hour mark in what is known as 'Stevie Mallan territory' around these parts. But with the 20 year-old out with a sickness bug it was up to McAllister to step up. However, his effort was curled well over the bar.
Raith had a chance similar to the one that Magennis had created for Saints five minutes earlier when Declan McManus smashed the ball across the edge of goal but there were no takers for the Rovers and the scores remained level.
It was, however, St Mirren who would end the half the strongest. After winning a succession of corners which came to nothing, Andy Webster could've headed Saints into the lead when he was on the end of a McAllister free kick but the nodded effort went over.
Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Raith Rovers
If St Mirren had finished the first half as the stronger of the two sides they were certainly intent on making sure that stayed the case after the break. It was less than two minutes into the second half when Saints took the lead through Lewis Morgan. The young winger picked the ball up on the left hand side after a throw-in and out-muscled the opposing defender and lashed the ball into the net. It was a ferocious hit which left Cuthbert with no chance and gave Saints the lead for the first time at home in the league this season.
Saints were keeping Raith at bay with the away side not being allowed to create any opportunities. They did get one 10 minutes into the second half from a corner when towering Rovers defender M'Voto had a free header but the Frenchman headed wide.
The home side could have doubled their lead on the hour mark when Quinn was denied by Kevin Cuthbert. The midfielder cut into the box on the near the byline and dinked the ball goalward in what looked to be a cross. Cuthbert clawed the ball away before the ball came back out into the box to find Shankland who went down under the challenge of M'Voto. The referee was unmoved though much to the chagrin of Shankland and the Saints support.
The visitors did start to grow into the game as the second half wore on with Jordan Thompson proving to be a threat. The on loan forward tested Gallacher with a curling effort from the edge of the box but the goalkeeper did well to hold.
Gallacher was in fine form for the Buddies and did well to deny Bobby Barr an equaliser when he parried a shot. The ball came back to McManus who then hit the side netting after slicing his effort.
The game went back and forth right until the end but it could've been over with just under 15 minutes to go when McAllister headed off the bar. The youngster peeled away at the back post to be found by Shankland who had taken his time to look up and spot the 17 year-old who rose to knock the ball off the woodwork.
And then came a huge moment in the contest. Saints had everyone forward before losing the ball in the final third that began a lightening quick counter for the Kirkcaldy side. Eventually Mark Stewart was picked out and looks odds on to score as he bore down on goal but could only watch as Gallacher reacted brilliant to block the attempt and Saints got the ball clear.
It was Saints who then had the next best chance to wrap up the game when substitute Ryan Hardie was played through on goal. He made his way into the box and unleased the shot which was parried by the goalkeeper towards the path of Shankland before the Raith player cleared it for a corner.
Attempts were made by the home side to keep the ball in that area of the pitch and Shankland and Morgan did a good job of holding it there for a good two minutes into stoppage time. But the tension from the match wasn't about to end yet as the referee continued to play on and with four or five minutes of added time played Raith won a free kick deep in Saints half. They launched it into the box with everybody, included the Raith goalkeeper, in the area but it was cleared and St Mirren picked up another valuable three points.
Full Time: St Mirren 1-0 Raith Rovers
St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Gordon (Webster, 18), MacKenzie, Irvine, Quinn (McLear, 71), Magennis, Morgan, McAllister, Shankland, Sutton (Hardie, 79)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Clarkson, Gallagher, Walsh
Raith Rovers: Cuthbert, McHattie, Callachan, M'Voto, Johnston, Stewart (Vaughan, 79), Matthews (Skacel, 79), Davidson, Roberts (Barr, 58), McManus, Thompson
Subs Not Used: Lennox, Osei, Coustrain, Crawford
Referee: Barry Cook
Assistant Referee: Frank Connor
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Attendance: 2,620
Match report pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.
Match Gallery Pictures by John Millar - © millarpictures
